Boat top for cruising



1m 19$? E. LANKFORD, JR

BOAT TOP FOR CRUISING Z5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 25, 1965 EUGENE LANKFORD,JR.

we a June 20, 1967 E. LANKFOFBD, JR 3,325,836

BOAT TOP FOR CRUISING Filed 001;. 25, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG?) FIG 8 I EUGENE LANKFORDJR June 20, 1967 E. LANKFORD, JR 3,325,836

BOAT TOP FOR CRUISING Filed Oct. 25, 1965 3 Sheets-$heet 3 EUGENE LANKFORD, JR.

United States Patent 3,325,836 BUAT T8 FOR CRUlSING Eugene Lankford, Jr., 1225 S. Oak, Ariington, Tex. 76010 Filed (Pet. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 503,171 6 Claims. (Cl. 9-1) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention pertains to vehicle tops that have folding beds and particularly pertains to boat tops that unfold to provide shelter and space for sleeping.

The boat tops of this invention are easily attached to small boats to convert them to cruisers. Each converted boat provides beds for four persons. Installed tops can be removed easily to reconvert the boats to their original types.

An object of this invention is to provide sheltersand folding beds for small boats;

Another object is to provide pontoons for stabilizing unfolded shelters that are wider than the boats to which they are attached;

Another object is to provide means for readily unfolding the beds and the pontoons from within the respective boats;

Still another object is to provide means for supporting the tops above ground for use as tents; and

Still another object is to provide adjustable brackets that permit the tops to be readily attached and detached from gunwales of boats of different sizes.

A feature of the tops is their economical adaptation to popular priced boats to convert them to cruisers; and

Another feature is the optional front command bridge that provides windows for viewing in any direction.

Other objects and features of this invention will become apparent from the following description when read with reference to the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an oblique rear view of the boat top as it appears when it is mounted on a small pleasure boat and it has the beds and their shelters unfolded;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the top with its beds and pontoons folded along the sides of the boat top;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the boat top with the beds folded;

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view of one of the beds and a respective pontoon to show a support for the bed and a parallel bar for mounting the pontoon;

FIG. 5 is a cross section of a folded bed;

FIG. 6 is a cross section of an adjustable bracket for attaching the top to the gunwales of a boat;

FIG. 7 is a cross section of a bed to show another mounting means that may be used in those boats that are not so narrow that they require the full extension of the bed as shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 8 shows telescoping legs for mounting the top above ground for use as a tent.

In FIG. 1, a boat top 11 is attached to a small boat 12 to provide a cruiser that has sleeping facilities for four persons. The main enclosure 13 is constructed namely of lightweight rigid material. It is approximately the same width as the boat and extends over most of the passenger area. Adjustable brackets 14 facilitate mounting the top on boats of different Widths. Generally the main enclosure has a front command portion with a top that is enough higher than the rest of the enclosure to accommodate a rearwardly facing window 16.

Side enclosures 17 and 18 with respective folding beds 19 and 20 are each attached to a side of the main enclosure 13. When the beds 19 and 20 are unfolded, they extend outwardly beyond the sides of the boat 12. The boat is stabilized by pontoons 21 and 22 that are mounted by downwardly extending brackets 23 to the outer edges of beds 19 and 20 respectively. The sides and tops of the enclosures 17 and 18 are fabricated from a flexible material. The walls of the side enclosure and the rear wall of the main enclosure have windows with both usual mosquito nets and weathertight flaps.

When the boat top is being transported, when it is being mounted, or when it is used while the boat to which it is attached is cruising fast, each of the beds 19 and 20 is folded, as shown in FIG. 2. When folded, each bed becomes a part of the respective side of the main enclosure 13 and closes an opening that provides access to the respective bed while it is unfolded.

As the beds are being folded by persons inside the main enclosure 13, means described below operate to fold automatically the pontoons 21 and 22 to positions adjacent their respective beds. As the beds are being folded, the flexible material of the tops and sides is pulled inside the main enclosure and then folded or rolled into a compact bundle and tied along the top or along the sides of the enclosure.

In detail, the top and sidewall frame of the main enclosure 13 are fabricated from a lightweight rigid material, for example, fiber glass. The top is provided with raised rearwardly facing ventilators 24. The front portion of the boat top has greater height than the rest to accommodate the rearwardly facing window 16. The top surface is preferably finished in a light color to reflect heat readily.

An adjustable bracket 14 is secured to the bottom of each corner portion 25 of the frame of the main enclosure 13. With reference to FIG. 6, the bracket 14 is shown adjusted to fasten the boat top 11 to a boat 12 that is slightly narrower than the main portion of the boat top. The bracket has upper and lower angle pieces 26 and 27 that are fabricated from bars of metal. The upper piece 26 has a vertical upper portion bolted to a lower corner portion 25 of the main enclosure 13. Since the boat as shown in FIG. 6 is not as wide as the main enclosure, the lower portion of the upper piece 26 is turned inward. The inner end of the piece 26 is offset downward so that it can be bolted tightly to the lower piece 27 and provided farther outward a space to clamp between the pieces 26 and 27, and inwardly curved lip 28 of the lower edge of the main enclosure 13. The lower piece 27 extends inwardly over the gunwales 28 and has an inner end bent downward inside the edge of the boat. A pad 29'is positioned between the lower piece 27 and the gunwale 28. A locking latch 30 is fastened to the inner end of the piece 27 and a hook is secured to the inside of the gunwale 23 just below the latch. The latch engages the hook to pull the piece 27 tightly against the pad 29. The upper and lower pieces 26 and 27 can be conveniently fastened together with bolts and wing nuts.

The lower piece 27 has slots for receiving the bolts such that it can be positioned inwardly or outwardly on the upper piece 26 as required to accommodate boats of different widths. When the boat is wider than the boat top, the lower piece 27 is assembled to the upper piece 26 so that it extends outward rather than inward. A weatherstrip 32, that may be a strip of fiber glass, is fastened to the bottom outside edge of the main enclosure 13 and formed to contact the upper outside edge of the boat 12 so as to provide a weathertight seal between the boat and the boat top.

A bed 19 has one of its sides hinged along the lower edge of an opening in each side of the main enclosure 13. With reference to FIG. 4, each bed may comprise a lower rigid panel 34, an upper panel 35, and a layer of a lightweight insulating filler 36 that fills space between the panels. Preferably, the panels 34 and 35 are fiber glass and the insulating filler 36 is a plastic foam. The panels 34 and 35 have upwardly curved edges. The outer edge 37 is curved until it slants inward slightly so as to provide, when the bed 19 is in a folded position, a seal against a sealing strip 38 (FIG. that lines the inner surface of the edge of the opening in the side of the main enclosure 13. The upper panel 35 fits inside the edges of the lower panel 34, and the contiguous edges are fasened together. The intermediate layer of plastic foam reinforces the bed and provides insulation.

The lower inner corner of the bed 19 is rotatably supported by a hinge 40 to the side of the main enclosure 13 at the bottom of the opening for the bed. A supporting bar for retaining the bed 19 in its horizontal unfolded position has an upper part 41 with an end rotatably secured to the side of the main enclosure 13 by a hinge bolt 43 at a point above the end of the bed 19, and has a lower part 42 with an end rotatably supported to the bed 19 by a hinge bolt 44 that is positioned near the upper surface of the bed at a point near its outer edge. The upper part 41 and lower part 42 of the supporting bar are joined together by having their other ends rotatably secured at points 46 and 47, respectively'near the center of the base of an approximately right-triangular shaped hinge plate 45.

A ridge bar 49 for supporting a flexible top portion 50 above the bed 19 extends along the length of the bed and has its supporting ends turned inward :at right angles. One end of the bar 49 is rotatably mounted to the hinge plate 45 at a point 48 near its corner opposite its base. The opposite end of the bed has a similar mounting. When the bed supporting parts 41 and 42 are unfolded in a straight line, and the ridge bar is unfolded so that its supporting ends are approximately perpendicular to the respective bed supporting bars, the supporting bars hold the bed 19 horizontal, and hold the ridge bar 45 tightly against the flexible material or canvas 50 to support the outer side wall and the outer edge of the top of the side enclosure 17. The bars at each end of the bed 19 are held firmly in their unfolded positions by respective retaining pins 51 that are inserted into holes in the bars and in the hinge plate 45 at points spaced apart from. respective hinge points 46-48 on the hinge plate.

The canvas 50 is shaped to fit the bed 19 and the opening in the sidewall of the main enclosure 13. It is provided with windows 52 (FIG. 1) that are covered with mosquito netting and with canvas flaps. The bottom edges of the outer walls and the end walls of the canvas 50 are secured tightly to the respective ends and the outer side of the bed 19, and the inner edges of the top and end walls of the canvas 50 are secured firmly to the respective side of the main enclosure 13 about the opening that provides access to the bed.

The pontoon 21 (FIG. 4) has a pair of struts spaced apart along its length to position the pontoon below the outer edge of the bed 19 while the bed is unfolded. Each strut 54 has an upper member '55 and a lower member 56 that are bolted together through slotted holes so that the length of the strut can be adjusted. The strut members 55 and 56 have V-ridges to provide stiffness. The V-ridges of one member fit within those of the other member to maintain the members in a straight line during the adjustment of the length of the respective strut. The upper end of each of the upper members 55 is rotatably secured to a bar .39 and a somewhat lower point on the strut is fastened to a hinge 53 that is mounted to the lower outer edge of the bed 19'.

The bar 39 has a longitudinal portion (FIG. 1) that extends parallel and slightly above the outer curved edge of the bed 19. Each end of bar 39 is turned inwardly and extends across the respective end of the bed 19. The inner end of the transverse .portion is rotatably mounted by a bolt 71, adjacent the upper edge of the bed 19, to the sidewall of the main enclosure 13. While the bed is being folded, the transverse lower surface of the bed in line with the hinge 53, and the bar 39 function as a parallel bar to move the pontoon 21 upwardly and inwardly until it is adjacent the lower surface of the bed that becomes a part of the outer surface of the sidewall of the main enclosure 13.

InFIG. 5, the side enclosure 17 with its bed 19 is shown folded. The retaining pins 51, FIG. 4, have been removed from the hinge plate 45 at each end of the side enclosure, and the bed has been pulled upwardly and inwardly' from the inside of the main enclosure 13. The hinge plate 45 moves inwardly and downwardly as the 'ridge'bar 49 and the bar 42 of the bed support are ro- I tated upwardly and inwardly until the bars are adjacent and positioned within the opening in the side of the main enclosure 13. While the bed is being rotated about its hinge 40, the hinge points 39 and 53 are revolved according to a parallel bar arrangement to position the pontoon 21. As the bed is being folded, the flexible material that is the top and sides of the side enclosure 17 is being pulled inwardly and rolled into a bundle to be retained by straps 57 and 58. Each of the straps 57 and 58 has one end attached to the bed and the other end attached to the side and top respectively of the main enclosure 13. When they are buckled tight, they hold the canvas and the bed in place.

The mounting for the bed may be modified according to the size of the boat top. Also, the bed can be mounted so that it can be stored overhead to leave the sides of the main enclosure open. A simplified mounting that is suitable for a boat that is wide enough to accommodate a wide boat top that has space to accommodate part of the width of the beds witihn the main enclosure, is shown in FIG. 7. A bed is rotatably mounted on a longitudinal,

axis intermediate the sides of the bed by mounting bolts 59 that are secured to the respective sides of the main enclosure 13 at the vertical edges of the opening. Obviously, the distance of the mounting bolt from One edge of the bed is nearly the same as the vertical distance from the mounting bolt to the lower edge of the Opening in the side of the enclosure 13 so that the bed 60 can be rotated from a horizontal position to a vertical position for enclosing the side of the main enclosure 13. A single-piece supporting bar 61 has one end rotatably secured at a point on the end of the bed 60 near its outer edge, and when the bed is horizontal, the bar slants inwardly and upwardly to a point on the upper part of the respective vertical edge of the opening in the side of the main enclosure 13. The upper end of bar 61 is secured by a removable pin 72 to the enclosure 13. A ridge bar 63 is similar to the ridge bar 49 of FIG. 4 but its lower end is rotatably mounted to the end of the bed 60 by the same mounting bolt 62 that secures the lower end of the bar 61. The ridge bar 61 is unfolded to hold the canvas of the side enclosure tightly. Straps 64 are secured to the canvas of the side enclosure 65 at spaced points along a line adjacent the ridge bar 61. The straps 64 are tightened about the ridge bar 61 to secure it after it is unfolded.

When desired, the boat top can be supported above ground for camping. A telescopingleg is attached inside each corner of the main enclosure 13. In FIG. 8, a telescoping rod member 66 of one of the corner legs extends upward through a bushing 67 into a guide tube 68. The bushing is mounted in a hole through the inwardly curved lip 33 at the base of the corner 25 of the main enclosure. A bracket 69 for the guide tube 68 is spaced approximately above the bushing 67, and is mounted on the inside surface of the corner 25 such as to direct the telescoping rod or leg outwardly at an approximate IS-degree angle. This slight spreading of the legs adds rigidity to the enclosure. A round foot 70 is secured to the lower end of each leg.

A canvas floor and sides can be secured by snap fasteners to the lower edge of the main enclosure 13. The round feet 70 on the telescoping legs 66 press downwardly and slightly outwardly on the inside surface of the floor to hold it in place.

The relatively inexpensive top described herein provides a convenient means of extending the use of an open boat by converting it into a cruiser. When the beds are folded, the top can be readily transported either by itself or with the boat to which it is attached. A forward section with the higher top and large windshield may be desirable. Mosquito netting and flaps are preferably provided with zippers so that the sides and rear of the enclosure may be opened as required for fishing or swimming, and may be closed as required for privacy and for protection from the weather. The fiber glass main enclosure may be shaped to have windows, ventilators and attractive curved top edges.

While the vehicle top with folding beds and side enclosures have been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, the top may be modified in obvious ways and still be within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A detachable boat top and enclosure comp-rising:

a main enclosure having a lower frame portion adapted to being secured to the gunwales of a boat, an opening in each of its opposite sidewalls, a folding bed and a respective side enclosure attached to each side of said main enclosure,

each of said beds being hinged longitudinally to said respective side of said main enclosure so as to be readily rotated between a folded vertical position and outwardly to an unfolded horizontal useable position, said beds in their folded positions being a part of their respective sidewalls to close said respective openings in said sidewalls,

the top, outer sidewall, and end walls of each of said side enclosures being a continuous piece of fitted flexible material, the inner edges of said tops and said end walls of said side enclosures being tightly fastened to said main enclosure along corresponding edges of said respective openings of said sidewalls of said main enclosure, the bottom edges of said walls of said side enclosures being fastened tightly to corresponding edges of said beds such that each of said beds when it is unfolded is at the bottom of the respective side enclosure,

a ridge bar for each of said beds, each of said ridge bars having a longitudinal portion extending along the length of the respective bed, each of said ridge bars being hinged to its respective bed to accommodate its being rotated from a folded position to an unfolded position for rotating its longitutinal portion from a position adjacent to the top of the respective bed to a position above the outer portion of said bed is in its unfolded position, means for fastening each of said ridge bars in its unfolded position so that it presses upwardly and outwardly on the inside surface of said flexible material of the respective side enclosure to support it and to define the outer-border of is top, and

a folding pontoon assembly attached to said outer portion of each of said beds.

2. A boat top as claimed in claim 1 in which each of said side enclosures has a parallel bar assembly for positioning automatically one of said pontoons in response to one of said beds being rotated between its folded and its unfolded positions, said parallel bar assembly for each of said beds extending along the outer edge and ends of said respective bed and being hinged to adjacent points on said main housing, and supporting means for each of said potoons secured to the outer portion of said parallel bar assembly.

3. A boat top as claimed in claim 1 having a plurality of adjustable mounting brackets attached to said lower frame portion, each of said mounting brackets having clamping portions adjustable to receive gunwales of different widths, and a horizontal arm portion adjustable in length to facilitate the positioning of said clamping portions of said mounting brackets on gunwales of boats of different widths.

4. A detachable vehicle top and sleeping tent having a main enclosure and mounting means for attaching said enclosure to :a conveyance, said main enclosure having a longitudinal opening in at least one of its sidewalls and a bed for said opening, said bed being hinged longitudinally within said opening so as to be readily rotated outwardly between a folded vertical position and an unfolded horizontal useable position, said bed in its folded position being a continuation of said one sidewall to close said opening therein, and said bed in its unfolded position extending substantially beyond said one sidewall;

the improvement comprising a pontoon and means for fastening said pontoon rigidly at a desired position below the outer edge of said bed while said bed is unfolded for converting a speedboat runabout to a cruiser.

5. A detachable vehicle top and pontoon as claimed in claim 4 in which said means for fastening said pontoon assembly includes a parallel bar assembly, said parallel bar assembly for said bed extending along the outer edge and the ends thereof, each end of the parallel bar assembly being hinged to adjacent points on said main enclosure, and supporting means for said pontoon fastened to the outer portion of said parallel bar assembly, said pontoon being positioned automatically between a position adjacent said bed and said desired position below said bed as said bed is rotated from its unfolded position to its folded position.

6. In a cruiser, a foldable bed, an adjustable mechanism for securing said bed to the side of said cruiser, said mechanism being adjustable for positioning said bed between a folded position as a portion of the side of said cruiser and an unfolded horizontal position, a pontoon, and pontoon supporting means attached to said bed for positioning said pontoon below the outer portion of said bed while said bed is unfolded.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,671,457 5/1928 Wiedman 296-23 2,788,238 4/1957 Baird 296-23 2,893,780 7/1959 Ervine 296--23 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

T. M. BLIX. Assistant Examiner. 

6. IN A CRUISER, A FOLDABLE BED, AN ADJUSTABLE MECHANISM FOR SECURING SAID BED TO THE SIDE OF SAID CRUISER, SAID MECHANISM BEING ADJUSTABLE FOR POSITIONING SAID BED BETWEEN A FOLDED POSITION AS A PORTION OF THE SIDE OF SAID CRUISER AND AN UNFOLDED HORIZONTAL POSITION, A PONTOON, AND PONTOON SUPPORTING MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID BED FOR POSITIONING SAID PONTOON BELOW THE OUTER PORTION OF SAID BED WHILE SAID BED IS UNFOLDED. 